Tools

Calexico, Bahamas, Kingsbury Manx

When: Sat., Jan. 26, 8:30 p.m. 2013
Price: $20

After Southwestern crew Calexico took four years to make the follow-up to 2008's Carried to Dust, one might have expected the result to be a swift torrent of ideas and moods, nationalities and atmospheres. After all, for a decade, Calexico was the indie world's go-to act for twisting exotica into rock 'n' roll by wrapping wailing horns or jubilant accordion around a thicket of heavy drums and distorted guitars. To the contrary, last year's Algiers might be Calexico's most refined and defined disc to date, more dependent on the polish of its players (including drummer John Convertino and guitarist Paul Niehaus) than their sometimes unfiltered eclecticism. As the sounds and styles of indie rock sprawled, Calexico effectively tucked themselves in, showing that decisiveness could be an asset, too. Similarly, openers The Kingsbury Manx make some of the most charmingly economical pop music you'll ever hear. Also, Bahamas. —Grayson Currin